Reviewing Cliff Fielder, Food & Beverage Manager, Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre
Review is written by Staff @ The Ring and is based on • Interviews with this vendor • Interviews with past brides
For any special day... whether it's your wedding day, rehearsal dinner or an engagement party... if you are looking for a truly special setting, then plan to visit the Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre in North London. Located on the grounds of the former Spencer estate, the Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre is one of London's most exclusive addresses for a dream wedding. Let us explain...
Spencer weddings with a personal touch
Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre, formerly known as Spencer Hall, is well known to most Londoners and perhaps not at all to others. Its secluded grounds, elegant manor house and location so close to the heart of the city make it fabulous for weddings and a surprise for people visiting the centre for the first time.
When you host your wedding at Spencer, Cliff Fielder, the centre’s Food & Beverage Manager, and his team strive to cater to your every need. With over twenty years of hospitality experience and ten years at Spencer, Cliff says that his creativity and focus on service ensure your day is one you will remember forever. On-site planning is provided by their coordinator, Jennifer Clark, whose goal is to manage all the details from your initial questions all the way to seeing you through to your special day, making it an experience you will never forget. "A bride who chooses to host their wedding with us can enjoy the day they've always imagined knowing every detail is attended to," Cliff told us. Jennifer adds, “No two weddings are alike and we realize this, we work together with the bride and groom to create a day that is unique to them, incorporating as many personal touches as we can.”
Spencer is proud of their culinary team lead by Dee Jefferson as Executive Chef, and Allesandro Malnati Sous Chef. "Together, these chefs work with a very talented team that provides delights that feed all of your senses as well as your appetite," Cliff told The Ring. He knows the difference and states that, "our kitchen prepares our dishes 'to order' and we are known for that. It truly is world class."
A Georgian manor in nature's playground
This beautiful Georgian manor that offers picturesque grounds and unique dining room layout has been making brides' dreams come true for over fifteen years. Spencer truly is the destination for your entire wedding. Imagine celebrating your ceremony on the manicured back garden and gazebo, entering the ceremony with the grandest of all entrances down the back staircase of the original Georgian manor, capturing stunning wedding photos in the impeccably manicured grounds and gardens, and hosting your reception in Asher’s Dining Room, a unique layout with endless possibilities. New to Spencer this fall an outdoor living area complete with an impressive gas fireplace, great for a night time photo op or to warm a cool night. Then, when the night is done, you and your guests can retire to one of the 125 on-site guestrooms, the Bride and Groom are complimentary!
Set back from Windermere Road in North London, the estate is situated on thirty parkland acres adjacent to the Thames River. Walking through the grounds makes you feel as if you’ve been whisked away to a secluded place, even though you are still in the city of London. The historical parkland setting provides the backdrop for an intimate affair, while several million dollars in renovations over the past few years guarantee that Spencer offers all the amenities you and your guests will need on your special day.
Spencer spaces
Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre plays host to groups as big as 180 for a sit down meal and up to 200 for a cocktail style reception, with room to spare. Its unique multi-room layout provides the backdrop for many sizes and styles of receptions.
Lindsay and Nathan Hall were married at Spencer and told The Ring how happy they were with the facilities.
"... The space is brilliant because it is actually three rooms (all attached) and a patio. The dining room is small enough to feel intimate - but not too small to seem crowded. The colours worked well with our wedding... The other two rooms are attached and provide space for dancing, lounging, chatting and playing pool (we requested the pool table remain for our reception; however, they offered to have it covered if we so desired). The patio provided us with a perfect space to escape the party and allowed our smoking guests to still feel included in the festivities."
Just like Lindsay and Nathan did, couples can book exclusive use of the Asher's Dining Room, Asher's Lounge and the Garden Room for their wedding with more than eighty guests.
The large, newly expanded Asher's Dining Room has a working fireplace and can be used for both the ceremony and the reception. This space, which connects to Asher's Lounge and the Garden Room, accommodates weddings of up to 180 people for a plated dinner.
Spencer's Garden Room was specifically designed for indoor ceremonies because of its large impressive windows that allow natural light to fill the room. The room showcases the wedding party and is great for photos. The Garden Room holds 120 for the ceremony with an expansive view of the surrounding grounds and is great for the times of year where a ceremony outside is not possible. Regardless of the season, Spencer lends itself beautifully to weddings.
For more intimate ceremonies or dinner only receptions, Spencer’s Dining Room offers a colonial setting with a central fireplace and mantle. This Spencer space can accommodate up to sixty people for a plated dinner.
Because of space, attention and the fact that weddings are so intricate, Spencer never hosts more than one wedding per day. We strive to give the bride and groom the attention they deserve.
Our favourite menu choices...
(Prices cover your wedding at Spencer and do not include taxes or 15% service fees. Room rental and SOCAN fees are extra.)
Thames Plated Dinner Package | Canapés • Micro green salad or Forest mushroom & smoked cheddar bisque • Roast prime rib of Canadian beef • Pan seared chicken supreme • Butternut Squash Vegetable ravioli • White chocolate cheesecake or Key Lime explosion
Fanshawe Plated Dinner Package | Canapés • Micro green salad • Spanish onion & brie cheese soup • Herb & Peppercorn Crusted Beef Striploin • Grilled breast of chicken • Tequila - Lime Grilled Tiger Prawns • Vegetarian Asian Trio• Passion fruit mousse or chocolate caramel crème brulee
Forest City Plated Dinner Package | Canapés • Cucumber & spinach salad tower • Sun dried tomato & smoked cheddar bisque • Melon Martini ~ Roast beef tenderloin • lemon-rosemary marinated chicken supreme • Grilled Atlantic Salmon Fillet• Grilled Vegetable and Goat cheese tower • Chocolate Lovers Trio
Two extensive buffet options are also offered for those guests preferring that style of service.
Picture perfect
A special feature to note for wedding photography is that only couples who book Spencer for their weddings can have photos taken on the grounds. In addition to not worrying about other couples or wedding parties while on-site, the memories they capture will have a unique backdrop.
One of London's best kept secrets
A Spencer wedding has to be one of London's best kept secrets. It has been an incredible choice for those brides who have discovered it and were looking for an all-in-one spectacular wedding location where every detail is attended to. From ceremony, photo shoot and reception, to your wedding night and guest accommodations, you feel like you're taken care of here. “When you’re making the biggest commitment of your life," Cliff says, "we want to offer you everything Spencer has – a beautiful location and accommodations, personalized service, and impeccable food.”
Walking you through it...
To book a wedding at Spencer you'll initially meet with Jennifer to discuss dates, your needs, packages, budget, and everything in between. She suggests that you book twelve months in advance to guarantee your preferred date. They are willing to accommodate last minute bookings up to a month in advance providing they have availability. You’ll meet with Cliff 3 months before the big day to finalize all important details and as many times in between that or afterwards that you need to. And of course, before you make your final menu selections, you and your fiancé will be invited to an open house for a sample of everything that Spencer has to offer you.
If you have audio-visual needs for your reception, Spencer is fully equipped with a state of the art sound and AV system. Not only will your guests be able to see your life story in pictures, but they will be able to clearly hear the special words of your family and friends during speeches.
Your Spencer wedding includes...
• Personal on-site wedding planner
• Printed hotel reservation invitation insert
• Menu cards for each table
• Selection of hot hors d'oeuvres and cold canapés served butler style during pre-dinner reception
• Your choice of tastefully prepared menus
• One glass sparkling wine for toasting following dinner
A platter of chocolate dipped strawberries per dinner table with dessert service.
• Late evening Starbucks regular coffee, decaf coffee and Teaforte tea service
• Three votive candles on each table with white candles
• Linen tablecloths and napkins
• Complimentary parking
• Preferred room rates for overnight guests
• Complimentary cake cutting and display
An invitation on your one year anniversary to come for dinner and an overnight stay, on them!
A few of The Ring's favourite things...
Guest rooms at Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre are a favourite feature for many of the couples that exchange vows here. Contact Ivey Spencer for exclusive guestroom rates, whether the reception is at Ivey Spencer or not. Gotta love that!
Details, details, details
• Jennifer recommends that you call 12 months ahead so that you may book your desired wedding date, but you may call at any time to check for available dates.
• Spencer can accommodate last minute bookings up to a month in advance, provided there is an opening.
• A $1000 deposit is required to book your wedding at Spencer.
• 50% of the amount is due three months before your wedding.
• By one month before the wedding, you must have 100% of the total estimate paid.
• Prices do not include applicable taxes and service fees.
In other words...
"The service, the food and the layout of the space were all PERFECT!!! In fact, we have had many of our guests tell us that our wedding was the best they have ever attended in part because of the venue. We really couldn't have picked a better spot to celebrate the most important day of our life. The food was beautiful and our friends and family have mentioned on numerous occasions that it was one of the best buffet spreads they have ever experienced." - Lindsay & Nathan Hall
"I found that Ivey was the only location that I could hold everything at and still be very private... It was very important to me that my family and guests felt special. Also, our ceremony was held outdoors and this location allowed myself and the wedding party to have a grand entrance coming down the back stairs... It was great working with Al. He responded to all my questions quickly and he was there when I needed to come in. He was very knowledgeable and very experienced so I had no worries that I wouldn't be happy with everything from organizing people the day of, to the dinner, to the décor. He was my personal Wedding Planner and it made planning the wedding so much easier." - Trish & Ryan Hillinger
'Having never been in a wedding before and not knowing what it entailed, both of us had no idea what to expect or what was required. Jennifer and Cliff made the whole process run smoothly and effortlessly. Spencer itself was the absolute perfect location for us as we had so many guests from out of town. Being able to have the ceremony and reception in one place was key, not to mention a short walk to the hotel room at the end of the night. All of our guests raved about the uniqueness of Spencer. Having three separate areas for guests to enjoy at the reception was something you can't find everywhere. The service and the food was impeccable and delicious! We couldn't have asked for a better wedding day and overall experience. Kudos to the whole Spencer team for doing their jobs so well and caring enough to make our day everything we had hoped for and more! Thanks again!'
Sheri & Keith ~ September 17, 2011
“Ivey Spencer was the perfect place for our elegant and classy themed wedding! We loved having our ceremony in the beautifully landscaped garden area complete with a gazebo. It was the perfect spot to say our I do’s! We continued the celebrations inside in their cleverly divided reception area which we used for the cocktail reception, dinner, and dancing. Our guests were blown away with the amazing food, especially the Spanish onion soup! Many of our friends and family have since commented to us that they had the best meal they’ve ever had – especially at a wedding! All the staff at Ivey really made our day so special. They were so accommodating and went above and beyond to ensure our day went off without a hitch! We would especially like to thank Jennifer for all her help in organizing our day. It was truly a memorable day and we are so glad we chose Ivey Spencer for our dream wedding!”
Michelle & Dan
For any special day... whether it's your wedding day, rehearsal dinner or an engagement party... if you are looking for a truly special setting, then plan to visit the Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre in North London. Located on the grounds of the former Spencer estate, the Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre is one of London's most exclusive addresses for a dream wedding. Let us explain...
Spencer weddings with a personal touch
Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre, formerly known as Spencer Hall, is well known to most Londoners and perhaps not at all to others. Its secluded grounds, elegant manor house and location so close to the heart of the city make it fabulous for weddings and a surprise for people visiting the centre for the first time.
When you host your wedding at Spencer, Cliff Fielder, the centre’s Food & Beverage Manager, and his team strive to cater to your every need. With over twenty years of hospitality experience and ten years at Spencer, Cliff says that his creativity and focus on service ensure your day is one you will remember forever. On-site planning is provided by their coordinator, Jennifer Clark, whose goal is to manage all the details from your initial questions all the way to seeing you through to your special day, making it an experience you will never forget. "A bride who chooses to host their wedding with us can enjoy the day they've always imagined knowing every detail is attended to," Cliff told us. Jennifer adds, “No two weddings are alike and we realize this, we work together with the bride and groom to create a day that is unique to them, incorporating as many personal touches as we can.”
Spencer is proud of their culinary team lead by Dee Jefferson as Executive Chef, and Allesandro Malnati Sous Chef. "Together, these chefs work with a very talented team that provides delights that feed all of your senses as well as your appetite," Cliff told The Ring. He knows the difference and states that, "our kitchen prepares our dishes 'to order' and we are known for that. It truly is world class."
A Georgian manor in nature's playground
This beautiful Georgian manor that offers picturesque grounds and unique dining room layout has been making brides' dreams come true for over fifteen years. Spencer truly is the destination for your entire wedding. Imagine celebrating your ceremony on the manicured back garden and gazebo, entering the ceremony with the grandest of all entrances down the back staircase of the original Georgian manor, capturing stunning wedding photos in the impeccably manicured grounds and gardens, and hosting your reception in Asher’s Dining Room, a unique layout with endless possibilities. New to Spencer this fall an outdoor living area complete with an impressive gas fireplace, great for a night time photo op or to warm a cool night. Then, when the night is done, you and your guests can retire to one of the 125 on-site guestrooms, the Bride and Groom are complimentary!
Set back from Windermere Road in North London, the estate is situated on thirty parkland acres adjacent to the Thames River. Walking through the grounds makes you feel as if you’ve been whisked away to a secluded place, even though you are still in the city of London. The historical parkland setting provides the backdrop for an intimate affair, while several million dollars in renovations over the past few years guarantee that Spencer offers all the amenities you and your guests will need on your special day.
Spencer spaces
Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre plays host to groups as big as 180 for a sit down meal and up to 200 for a cocktail style reception, with room to spare. Its unique multi-room layout provides the backdrop for many sizes and styles of receptions.
Lindsay and Nathan Hall were married at Spencer and told The Ring how happy they were with the facilities.
"... The space is brilliant because it is actually three rooms (all attached) and a patio. The dining room is small enough to feel intimate - but not too small to seem crowded. The colours worked well with our wedding... The other two rooms are attached and provide space for dancing, lounging, chatting and playing pool (we requested the pool table remain for our reception; however, they offered to have it covered if we so desired). The patio provided us with a perfect space to escape the party and allowed our smoking guests to still feel included in the festivities."
Just like Lindsay and Nathan did, couples can book exclusive use of the Asher's Dining Room, Asher's Lounge and the Garden Room for their wedding with more than eighty guests.
The large, newly expanded Asher's Dining Room has a working fireplace and can be used for both the ceremony and the reception. This space, which connects to Asher's Lounge and the Garden Room, accommodates weddings of up to 180 people for a plated dinner.
Spencer's Garden Room was specifically designed for indoor ceremonies because of its large impressive windows that allow natural light to fill the room. The room showcases the wedding party and is great for photos. The Garden Room holds 120 for the ceremony with an expansive view of the surrounding grounds and is great for the times of year where a ceremony outside is not possible. Regardless of the season, Spencer lends itself beautifully to weddings.
For more intimate ceremonies or dinner only receptions, Spencer’s Dining Room offers a colonial setting with a central fireplace and mantle. This Spencer space can accommodate up to sixty people for a plated dinner.
Because of space, attention and the fact that weddings are so intricate, Spencer never hosts more than one wedding per day. We strive to give the bride and groom the attention they deserve.
Our favourite menu choices...
(Prices cover your wedding at Spencer and do not include taxes or 15% service fees. Room rental and SOCAN fees are extra.)
Thames Plated Dinner Package | Canapés • Micro green salad or Forest mushroom & smoked cheddar bisque • Roast prime rib of Canadian beef • Pan seared chicken supreme • Butternut Squash Vegetable ravioli • White chocolate cheesecake or Key Lime explosion
Fanshawe Plated Dinner Package | Canapés • Micro green salad • Spanish onion & brie cheese soup • Herb & Peppercorn Crusted Beef Striploin • Grilled breast of chicken • Tequila - Lime Grilled Tiger Prawns • Vegetarian Asian Trio• Passion fruit mousse or chocolate caramel crème brulee
Forest City Plated Dinner Package | Canapés • Cucumber & spinach salad tower • Sun dried tomato & smoked cheddar bisque • Melon Martini ~ Roast beef tenderloin • lemon-rosemary marinated chicken supreme • Grilled Atlantic Salmon Fillet• Grilled Vegetable and Goat cheese tower • Chocolate Lovers Trio
Two extensive buffet options are also offered for those guests preferring that style of service.
Picture perfect
A special feature to note for wedding photography is that only couples who book Spencer for their weddings can have photos taken on the grounds. In addition to not worrying about other couples or wedding parties while on-site, the memories they capture will have a unique backdrop.
One of London's best kept secrets
A Spencer wedding has to be one of London's best kept secrets. It has been an incredible choice for those brides who have discovered it and were looking for an all-in-one spectacular wedding location where every detail is attended to. From ceremony, photo shoot and reception, to your wedding night and guest accommodations, you feel like you're taken care of here. “When you’re making the biggest commitment of your life," Cliff says, "we want to offer you everything Spencer has – a beautiful location and accommodations, personalized service, and impeccable food.”
Walking you through it...
To book a wedding at Spencer you'll initially meet with Jennifer to discuss dates, your needs, packages, budget, and everything in between. She suggests that you book twelve months in advance to guarantee your preferred date. They are willing to accommodate last minute bookings up to a month in advance providing they have availability. You’ll meet with Cliff 3 months before the big day to finalize all important details and as many times in between that or afterwards that you need to. And of course, before you make your final menu selections, you and your fiancé will be invited to an open house for a sample of everything that Spencer has to offer you.
If you have audio-visual needs for your reception, Spencer is fully equipped with a state of the art sound and AV system. Not only will your guests be able to see your life story in pictures, but they will be able to clearly hear the special words of your family and friends during speeches.
Your Spencer wedding includes...
• Personal on-site wedding planner
• Printed hotel reservation invitation insert
• Menu cards for each table
• Selection of hot hors d'oeuvres and cold canapés served butler style during pre-dinner reception
• Your choice of tastefully prepared menus
• One glass sparkling wine for toasting following dinner
A platter of chocolate dipped strawberries per dinner table with dessert service.
• Late evening Starbucks regular coffee, decaf coffee and Teaforte tea service
• Three votive candles on each table with white candles
• Linen tablecloths and napkins
• Complimentary parking
• Preferred room rates for overnight guests
• Complimentary cake cutting and display
An invitation on your one year anniversary to come for dinner and an overnight stay, on them!
A few of The Ring's favourite things...
Guest rooms at Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre are a favourite feature for many of the couples that exchange vows here. Contact Ivey Spencer for exclusive guestroom rates, whether the reception is at Ivey Spencer or not. Gotta love that!
Details, details, details
• Jennifer recommends that you call 12 months ahead so that you may book your desired wedding date, but you may call at any time to check for available dates.
• Spencer can accommodate last minute bookings up to a month in advance, provided there is an opening.
• A $1000 deposit is required to book your wedding at Spencer.
• 50% of the amount is due three months before your wedding.
• By one month before the wedding, you must have 100% of the total estimate paid.
• Prices do not include applicable taxes and service fees.
In other words...
"The service, the food and the layout of the space were all PERFECT!!! In fact, we have had many of our guests tell us that our wedding was the best they have ever attended in part because of the venue. We really couldn't have picked a better spot to celebrate the most important day of our life. The food was beautiful and our friends and family have mentioned on numerous occasions that it was one of the best buffet spreads they have ever experienced." - Lindsay & Nathan Hall
"I found that Ivey was the only location that I could hold everything at and still be very private... It was very important to me that my family and guests felt special. Also, our ceremony was held outdoors and this location allowed myself and the wedding party to have a grand entrance coming down the back stairs... It was great working with Al. He responded to all my questions quickly and he was there when I needed to come in. He was very knowledgeable and very experienced so I had no worries that I wouldn't be happy with everything from organizing people the day of, to the dinner, to the décor. He was my personal Wedding Planner and it made planning the wedding so much easier." - Trish & Ryan Hillinger
'Having never been in a wedding before and not knowing what it entailed, both of us had no idea what to expect or what was required. Jennifer and Cliff made the whole process run smoothly and effortlessly. Spencer itself was the absolute perfect location for us as we had so many guests from out of town. Being able to have the ceremony and reception in one place was key, not to mention a short walk to the hotel room at the end of the night. All of our guests raved about the uniqueness of Spencer. Having three separate areas for guests to enjoy at the reception was something you can't find everywhere. The service and the food was impeccable and delicious! We couldn't have asked for a better wedding day and overall experience. Kudos to the whole Spencer team for doing their jobs so well and caring enough to make our day everything we had hoped for and more! Thanks again!'
Sheri & Keith ~ September 17, 2011
“Ivey Spencer was the perfect place for our elegant and classy themed wedding! We loved having our ceremony in the beautifully landscaped garden area complete with a gazebo. It was the perfect spot to say our I do’s! We continued the celebrations inside in their cleverly divided reception area which we used for the cocktail reception, dinner, and dancing. Our guests were blown away with the amazing food, especially the Spanish onion soup! Many of our friends and family have since commented to us that they had the best meal they’ve ever had – especially at a wedding! All the staff at Ivey really made our day so special. They were so accommodating and went above and beyond to ensure our day went off without a hitch! We would especially like to thank Jennifer for all her help in organizing our day. It was truly a memorable day and we are so glad we chose Ivey Spencer for our dream wedding!”
Michelle & Dan
